Synthesis of steroids



United States Patent 260-348 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to and has as its object the provision of new physiologically active steroids, processes for their production and novel intermediates useful in the preparation thereof.

This application is a continuation-in-part application of my copending application, Ser. No. 370,114, filed May 25, 1964.

More particularly, this invention relates to steroids of wherein X is halogen (e.g., chloro or bromo).

The compounds of this invention may be prepared according to the processes of this invention beginning with A-norprogesterone as starting material.

A-norprogesterone may be first treated with a halogenating agent, for example, 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanobenzoquinone and a hydrogen halide, for example, hydrogen chloride or hydrogen bromide to yield the respective 7-halo-A-no-rprogesterone, which is a new compound of this invention.

The 7-halo-A-norprogesterones may then be dehydrogenated as by treatment with an organic base, such as collidine, at elevated temperatures to yield the 6-dehydro- A-norprogesterone, which is also a new compound of this invention.

6-dehydro-A-norprogesterone may then be oxidized as by treatment with a peracid, for example, m-chloroperbenzoic acid to yield the 6a,7a-oxido-A-norprogesterone, which is also a new compound of this invention.

601,-7a-oxido-A-norprogesterone may then be treated with an excess of a hydrogen halide, for example, hydrogen chloride or hydrogen bromide, at an elevated temperature to yield directly the respective 6-halo-6-dehydro-A-norprogesterone, which are new final products of this invention.

Alternatively, the 6-halo-6-dehydro-A-norprogesterone may be prepared by first treating GaJwOXidO-A-HOI'PIO- gesterone with 1 molar equivalent of a hydrogen halide, for example, hydrogen chloride or hydrogen bromide, at a reduced temperature, to yield the 6-halo-7-hydroxy-A- norprogesterones, which are also new compounds of this invention. The 6-halo-7-hydroxy-A-norprogesterones may then be treated with an excess of a hydrogen halide at an elevated temperature to yield the 6-halo-6-dehydro-A- norprogesterone final products of this invention. The compounds of this invention may be utilized in various ways including in admixture with a suitable carrier or carriers.

The compounds of this invention possess anti-androgenic activity and may be used in the treatment of such conditions as hyperandrogenic acne, the dosage and/or concentration being adjusted for the potency of the particular steroid and the requirements of the patient. Generally, a dosage of from 0.01 mg./kg. of body weight to about 1.0 mg./kg. of body weight is sufiicient.

The invention may be further illustrated by the following examples:

EXAMPLE 1 7 a-chloro-A-norprogesterone To a solution of A'norprogesterone in dried dioxane, 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanobenzoquinone is added and into the resulting solution a stream of hydrogen chloride gas is bubbled for 30 seconds. The reaction mixture is then left at room temperature for 16 hours during which time crystals of 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyan0hydroquinone separate. The mixture is then filtered, washed with dioxane and the filtrate evaporated to dryness, in vacuo. The residue is dissolved in chloroform and plate chromatographed using Woelm neutral alumina (Activity 5) as adsorbant and chloroform as developing solvent. Detection of the band having Rf approximately 0.6 and elution with ethyl acetate followed by evaporation of the solvent, in vacuo, gives a residue which on crystallization from acetone-hexane yielded 7a-chloro-A-norprogesterone having a melting point of 124126 C., +36.0 (chloroform) if; 232 mp (=16,900)

Analysis.Calcd for C H O Cl: C, 71.65; H, 8.12. Found: C, 71.62; H, 8.16.

EXAMPLE 2 7a-bromo-A-norprogesterone Following the procedure of Example 1 but substituting hydrogen bromide for hydrogen chloride there is obtained 7a-bromo-A-norprogesterone.

EXAMPLE 3 6-dehydro-A-norprogesterone A solution of 7a-chloro-A-norprogesterone in collidine is refluxed for 1 hour. After cooling it is diluted with chloroform and washed successively with 2 N bydrochloric acid, water, 5% sodium bacarbonate and water, then evaporated to dryness, in vacuo. The residue on plate chromatography using Woelm neutral alumina (Activity V) and chloroform as developing solvent gives a band detectable by ultraviolet at Rf approximately .7 which on elution with ethyl acetate, evaporation of the solvent, in vacuo, crystallization of the residue from acetone-hexane yields 6-dehydro-A-nonprogesterone having melting point 153-154 C., [041 +895 (chloroform),

M22. 277 u (e=22,100)

EXAMPLE 4 6-dehydro-A-norprogesterone Following the procedure set forth in Example 3, but substituting 7a-bromo-A-norprogesterone for 7a-chloro- A-norprogesterone, there is obtained 6-dehydro-A-n0rprogesterone.

EXAMPLE 5 6a,7a-oxido-A-norprogesterone A solution of 6-dehydro-A-norprogesterone in methylene chloride is cooled to 0 C. and metachloroperbenzoic acid is added in small portions. The reaction mixture is kept at 0 C. for 30 minutes then allowed to come to room temperature and left stirring for 64 hours. The solution is then washed with sodium bicarbonate, 5% sodium sulfite, and water and then evaporated to dryness in vacuo. The residue on plate chromatography using Woelm neutral alumina (Activity V) as adsorbant and chloroform as developing solvent gives a major band at Rf 0.5 which is detectable by ultraviolet and is eluted with ethyl acetate. The ethyl acetate is evaporated to dryness in vacuo to give a residue which on crystallization from acetone-hexane gives 6u,7u-oxido-A-norprogesterone, having a melting point of 168-170 C. [M +94.9 (chloroform),

kite. 3 l- (6: 13,100)

Analysis.Calcd for C H O C, 76.40; H, 8.34. Found: C, 76.37; H, 8.34.

EXAMPLE 6 6,8-chloro-7a-hydroxy-A-norprogesterone To a cold solution of 6a,7a-oxido-A-norprogesterone in chloroform is added dropwise a solution of hydrogen chloride in chloroform containing 50 mg. of hydrochloric acid per ml. The resulting solution is kept at 0 for 2 hours then diluted with water. The chloroform is separated and the aqueous portion extracted with chloroform. The combined chloroform extracts are then washed with water until neutral and evaporated to dryness in vacuo. Crystallization of the residue from acetone-hexane gives 6,6-chloro7u-hydroxy-A-norprogesterone having a melting point of 244-246 C., +26.9 (ethanol),

N12,. 234. m (e=l4,800)

Analysis.-Calcd for C H27O Cl: C, 68.43; H, 7.76; Cl, 10.10. Found: C, 68.30; H, 7.77; Cl, 10.02.

EXAMPLE 7 6fi-bromo-7u-hydroxy-A-norprogesterone Following the procedure of Example 6, however, substituting hydrogen bromide in acetic acid for the hydrogen chloride in the chloroform, there is obtained 6fi-bromo-7u-hydroxy-A-norprogesterone.

4 EXAMPLE 8 6-chloro-6-dehydro-A-norprogesterone A solution of 6B-chloro-7a-hydroxy-A-norprogesterone in chloroform is saturated with hydrogen chloride gas and the mixture heated at 40-45 C. for 22 hours. The solution is washed with 5% sodium bicarbonate with water until neutral and then evaporated to dryness, in vacuo. Chromatography of the residue on Woelm neutral alumina (Activity V) using ethyl acetate chloroform (1:9, vzv) as eluting solvent gives on evaporation and crystallization 6-chloro-6-dehydro-A-norprogesterone having a melting point of 138140 C., [411 +982 (chloroform),

A3 3,; 279 mg (e=29,400) Analysis.Calcd for C H O C1 (332.86): C, 72.13; H, 7.57. Found: C, 72.20; -H, 7.70.

EXAMPLE 9' 6bromo-6-dehydro-A-norprogesterone Following the procedure for Example 8 but substituting hydorgen bromide for the hydrogen chloride and 6/8-bromo-h-hydroxy-A-norprogesterone for 6 3-chloro- 7a-hydroxy-A-norprogresterone, there is obtained 6- bromo-6-dehydro-A-norprogesterone.

EXAMPLE 1O 6-chloro-6-dehydro-A-norprogesterone Following the procedure set forth in Example 8, but substituting an equivalent amount of 6a,7a-oxido-A-norprogesterone for 6,3-chloro-7a-hydroxy-A-norprogesterone, there is obtained 6-chloro-6-dehydro-A-norprogesterone.

What is claimed is:

1. 604,7a-oxido-A-norprogesterone.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,950,289 8/1960 Weisenborn 260348 NORMA S. MILESTONE, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

